Creative use of stencils

Creative use of stencils can add a whole new dimension to Armourcoat surface finishes. Intricate, ornate designs or more geometric repeat patterns can be overlaid to create seamless wall effects, decorative borders or motifs with stunning effect. Background textured plaster finishes can form the background to highly polished Venetian plaster, providing a sophisticated and dramatic wall finish. ArmourColor architectural coatings can also be used in combination for a tough and durable finish option.

Vinyl stencils can also be used to create eye-catching company logos and more free-form wall branding. This can have the effect of intricately chiselled or carved stone for a permanent and enduring corporate look.

Creative Design Options
Whilst there are no fixed rules regarding which finishes should be used to create logo and stencil effects, certain combinations of finish give the best results, both in terms of the practicality of installation, and aesthetic merit.  In general we would recommend that the background layer is created in a textured plaster finish (Pitted, Travertine, Dragged) and the designs are finished in a finer and more polished finish such as Venetian plaster (Spatulata). Textured finishes contain larger marble granules and are therefore unsuitable for forming the raised part of a design. Spatulata, with micro-fine marble powder, provides a very clean and precise edge detail.

Colours and Lighting
The best looking stencil designs are often lit at an angle of incidence less than 15° so that a small drop shadow is created. The level of relief is determined by the choice of finish, but will generally be between 0.03”-0.10”.  To create a recessed stencil design set into the surface we can cut a ‘positive’ stencil. When the stencil is removed from the polished surface, the logo is recessed into the surface. A raised stencil design is also possible – using the reverse technique with a ‘negative’ stencil.  Choice of finish and color is important.  We can match most colors, using Pantone® swatches or similar, however we find the best results are achieved where the same tone is used but in slightly different shades.

Hawksmoor Air Street restaurant

Armourcoat polished plaster has been specified for the Hawksmoor Air Street restaurant in London.  Located on the first floor of Regent Street’s grand crescent, the restaurant and cocktail bar are inspired by the Piccadilly location - the heart of Art Deco London.

Nottingham-based interior architecture and design studio Macaulay Sinclair worked with owner Huw Gott, to create a glamorous interior paying homage to the classic Art Deco era.  As with all Hawksmoor locations, reclaimed materials have been used throughout to create a comfortable lived-in feel.

Entering the ground floor foyer the space is dominated by a sumptuous sweeping, elliptical marble staircase with black Armourcoat ‘SMG’ polished plaster walls, illuminated overhead by bespoke handcrafted chandeliers.  ‘SMG’ is a super luxury hand-applied wall finish with the appearance of a seamless high-gloss 'lacquer' effect, with no surface movement visible.

Architectural Products

A couple of product spotlights here from US trade magazine Architectural Products;

'Walled in Style' features the stunning SPE installed Sculptural Jetstream lift lobby in Coral Gables, Florida.

'Dinner by Design' features the Heston Blumental restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London.

Whiter Than White

Armourcoat were pleased to participate in the inaugural exhibition by Materials Council, entitled ‘Whiter than White’ at Super Brands (London Design Festival, 20-23 September).  Co-located with Tent London at the Old Truman Brewery, Super Brands is an interiors trade fair exclusively for established global design brands.

‘Whiter than White’ considered an exploration of the pursuit of whiteness in the built environment, by showcasing a highly-curated selection of architectural materials and finishes.

Small and large-scale samples across a range of architectural materials – including Armourcoat polished plaster – demonstrated the options available to an architect when selecting the materials that shape our surroundings and how these choices influence our experience of the built environment.

Materials Council was established by Ian Hunter and Brad Turner, former materials researchers at Foster + Partners architects, and founding partner Architonic.

100% Success!

The recent 100% Design London show as a great success with over 25,000 architects and designers visiting the event at London's Earls Court exhibition centre.  We used the event to launch ArmourFX in the UK and four new Sculptural designs.

ArmourFX®

Armourcoat will introduce ArmourFX® - custom-made decorative wall panels, evolved from their renowned range of applied seamless wall finishes - at 100% Design London in September.

ArmourFX® decorative wall panel systems include finishes and substrates suitable for all applications; from retail to residential, hotel to healthcare. Armourcoat's specialist designers and artisan plasterers can create integrated custom wall panel systems or design statement single artwork pieces. ArmourFX® panels are delivered direct from a single source workshop in custom-made packaging to ensure safe arrival on site.

As all modular systems, the panels can be hung and removed as required, with no specialist installation required. All panels are provided with finished edges and are ready for hanging with French cleats or 'Z' clips. Plaster finishes are applied to flame retardant formaldehyde-free MDF, Sculptural pieces are made from non-combustible mineral plaster.

An array of global projects for an impressive list of international blue chip clients in commercial, retail and domestic sectors have established Armourcoat as a leading supplier of high quality surface finishes. Expert advice will be available on the stand (E151 ‘Eco Design & Build’), together with stunning examples of the full range of decorative finishes available from Armourcoat.

For more information visit www.armourfx.com.

India advertising

Great to see continued support for the Armourcoat brand in India - from our local agent in Bangalore.  A new ad campaign in 'InsideOutside' magazine commenced in January, the current ad can be seen below.

Marble Lite

Armourcoat is included in the product development pages of US magazine Architectural Products (Jan/Feb 2012) - featuring Severn Trent Water’s new £60m operations centre in Coventry, UK.

The building - which aims to set new industry standards with one of the lowest carbon footprints for any UK office building - incorporates equally eco-friendly Armourcoat polished plaster.  Designed by Birmingham-based Webb Gray Architects, and built by BAM Construction, this highly-sophisticated energy efficient building features the latest eco-tec - and achieved a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating.

Armourcoat was used within the reception and main atrium space, to create a stunning and original design statement.  Totaling nearly four hundred square metres of hand-applied decorative plaster, Webb Gray specified colourfade artwork for feature panels and curved walls using Armourcoat Spatulata.  For the 30-metre high atrium panels, artisan plasterers blended over seventy colours of paste to achieve the seamless finish.

Scoop Australia

The Polished Plaster Company - Armourcoat's agent for Western Australia - will feature in Scoop's 2012 Best Commercial Building & Design magazine.

The magazine showcases inspirational designs from leading architects, builders and designers in WA.  One of four titles that make up the Scoop Building & Renovation series, the magazine has become an essential guide for corporate WA looking to build or refit their commercial space, and a major reference guide for more than 800 architecture, building and design firms in WA.

Mixology 2012 - sold out

Delighted to see Mixology (20th June, Old Billingsgate, London) has sold out - again!  The prestigious Mix Interiors Awards are handed to the ground breakers and boundary pushers of the commercial interiors sector recognising the most influential people and companies.

Mixology is a must attend industry award event held by Mix Interiors - the leading magazine for the UK office interiors market.  Launched early in 2000, Mix Interiors has carved out an enviable niche in the architectural, design and facilities market by focusing consistently on the real world of commercial interiors.

Armourcoat have created the unique Mixology awards every year - and our custom polished plaster finish graces the backdrop for the 2012 website.  Hope to see you there!

Going ECO

Armourcoat will be exhibiting at Ecobuild in March (stand S571, ExCeL London, 20-22 March) the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment.

As an industry leader, Armourcoat recognizes its obligation to manufacture green products. Core product lines are made from natural minerals, predominately pre-consumer recycled marble which can account for up to 40% of the product recipe.  Reduction of the company’s carbon footprint has been realized in 2012 with the introduction of region specific pre-cast manufacturing in the USA, Middle East and Far East.

Last year Armourcoat introduced Ductal® from Lafarge - a revolutionary ultra-high performance cement composite material with outstanding characteristics that are unique in the world of mineral building materials.  Ductal® will be presented at the show, alongside the stunning range of decorative surface solutions from Armourcoat.

New Year advertising - USA

Our 2012 advertising campaign kicks off next month in Architectural Record with a great shot of Armourcoat Sculptural 'Flow' in the Gourmet Burger Kitchen restaurant.  The same shot is used on the Contract design website as a banner ad.

Architectural Products Magazine 'Top 50'

Armourcoat Sculptural has been recognised within Architectural Products Magazine 'Top 50' products for 2011.

Jim Crockett, editorial director commented "A tradition almost since the magazine launched nearly a decade ago, we cap the year with our annual 'Top 50'.  The 'Top 50' represents the most requested products our readers asked for over the course of this past year as indicated by our reader service product information mechanism.  While not a judged competition, the 'Top 50' still offers insight into the minds of architects and designers as to what's caught the eye of their peers."

The magazine can be viewed online at http://www.arch-products.com/fastpath/index.php?pg=53&d=1&v=0&a=1.

Hotel and Retail Focus articles

Articles in Hotel and Retail Focus for February 2012 - spot the difference!;

Exhibitions 2012

The Armourcoat events schedule is already pretty comprehensive for next year!  These are the confirmed dates and exhibitions to December - more to advise shortly;

• EcoBuild, United Kingdom (20-22 March)
• MosBuild, Russia (2-5 April)
• Hospitality Design, USA (15-17 May)
• 100% Design, United Kingdom (20-23 September)
• Index, Dubai (24-27 September)
• NeoCon East, USA (November)

Talking Cocoon in Kiev (part 2)

Ukrainian agent Faktura continues to impress.  I've just received these great articles from local architect/designer magazines - featuring our recent evening presentation on the NHM Darwin Cocoon.

Global Specifications

Armourcoat’s success with international clients – notably within the hospitality and retail sectors – is underpinned by the ability to recreate specific wall finishes in colours and finishes which strictly align with brand guidelines anywhere in the world.  With a noticeable shift to internationally generated specifications, it has never been more important to deliver global solutions for worldwide brands.  The company works with a network of forty agents and trained applicators around the world, overseeing quality installation and client servicing.

Highlighting the global nature of the business, Armourcoat has also completed an ambitious growth programme to ensure speed and efficiencies within local markets in recent years.  In 2009, a subsidiary business was established in North America for national distribution with precast panel production capabilities.  This year, new facilities have been established in the Middle East and China to cope with the increasing demand – giving new resonance to the expression ‘thinking globally, acting locally’.

Harrison Medical Center

Armourcoat Spatulata has been specified for use at the new Heart and Vascular Center at Harrison Medical Center, Bremerton WA.

Local architects Rice Fergus Miller have used the distinctive wall finish to act as a memorable landmark within the reception space, and complement the curved cherry entrance wall and site branding.

The Spatulata finish is pure luxury. Pioneered by the Egyptians, improved by the Romans, it became known as 'stucco lustro veneziano' by the Venetians. Modern additives have greatly improved the working characteristics enabling it to be successfully applied in just 3-4 layers and polished to a glassy shine with a small steel blade or trowel.

The $14.6 million Heart and Vascular Center - serving the healthcare needs of residents in a four-county area on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas - is designed for clinical efficiency while at the same time enhancing quality of care and increasing patient safety. 

Stencil Designs

Creative use of stencils can add a whole new dimension to Armourcoat surface finishes. Intricate, ornate designs or more geometric repeat patterns can be overlaid to create seamless wall effects, decorative borders or motifs with stunning effect.  Textured plaster finishes can form the background to highly polished Spatulata, providing a sophisticated and dramatic wall finish. ArmourColor architectural coatings can also be used in combination for a tough and durable finish option.

A new 'stencil design' catalogue presents a small selection of designs, illustrating the types and styles of stencils achievable.  The catalogue is by no means exhaustive; we offer an in-house design service to create truly one-off custom designs.  Vinyl stencils can also be used to create eye-catching company logos and more free-form wall branding. This can have the effect of intricately chiselled or carved stone for a permanent and enduring corporate look. Colour-matching is possible, using Pantone® swatches or similar, to ensure a true brand representation.

Designing for Healthcare

Armourcoat attended the Healthcare Design (HCD) Convention and Expo in Nashville in November.

Studies have shown design-led healthcare interiors can have significant positive effects on patient, staff and visitors well being.  Careful choices in design can promote healing, relieve patient pain and stress, and reduce medical errors.  Hospitals are adopting Evidence-Based Design (EBD) in new constructions, expansions or re-modeling.

The 2012 HCD, held this year at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, brought together luminaries from the industry to discuss topics such as "New Directions in the Future of Healthcare Design".  There was general acceptance of evidence-based design (EBD), its recommendations, and the need for further research in this area by the very people in the industry who implement it.

A recent quote by Randy Kirk, MS, project specialist for The Methodist Hospital in ‘Contract’ magazine; "No one wants to go to the hospital, so let's make it feel a little less clinical and more like a comfortable home." The Methodist Hospital Outpatient Center, a 27-story building in Houston, was designed by local WHR Architects.  Choices in quality fabric, floor finishes, wall coverings and coatings all play a part – think more ‘hospitality’ than ‘hospital’.

We were delighted to participate in this key event at such an important time for the industry.  Armourcoat finishes are a perfect match for specifiers looking for tough and durable wall finishes and treatments.  They are highly suitable for commercial projects such as hospitals, where cleanliness is essential and vital to patient care quality.